Inversion Therapy: Get Upside-Down Now

An athlete's most important tool isn't their bike, their running shoes, or their GPS watch. It's their body. All too often, this tool is taken for granted and overworked with the extensive training and competing triathletes do. While athletes might adjust their training for sprains and broken bones, they often ignore the small aches and pains that can turn into major issues if left untreated. In fact, the same stubbornness that motivates athletes to succeed can become their downfall when it comes to seeking out the proper treatment for injuries.

The training effect

Most athletes don’t realize how training affects their body until something goes wrong. While training for a triathlon does wonders for your health and will ultimately help you live longer, it can also wreak havoc on the body. Many competitors have experienced issues like shin splints, knee problems, and general muscle pain. Behind each of these "niggles" is often an even longer list of conditions that can impede performance.

Tired muscles: This is different from simply feeling tired. Exhausting muscles can have serious consequences without the proper treatment, including stress fractures, inflammation, and ruptures.

Dehydration: Dehydration is much more than not drinking enough water. Each and every part of the body requires water in order to function to its potential. Over time, lack of water can cause electrolyte imbalance, dysphonia, and even heart palpitations.

Joint damage: Over the past few years, knee, hip, and ankle replacements have reached an all-time high in America. Without proper treatment, joint damage can lead to severe arthritis, which can put you on the bench for good.

Cartilage damage: Cartilage acts as a shock absorber inside the joint—without it, the bones within each joint can rub up against each other, causing damage as well as excruciating pain.

Get upside-down: 4 benefits

Inversion therapy is a pretty simple concept. It uses gravity to relieve pressure, increase blood flow, and reset important bodily functions—all of which are vital to the recovery process. Triathletes and other athletes with punishing workout schedules have seen incredible improvements in their overall health as a result of inversion therapy.

Improved joint health: This one is key for both triathletes and runners. Running puts an enormous amount of strain on joints. Inversion tables help joints to absorb shock more efficiently and can help to relieve existing joint pain.

Core strength: A wide variety of sports injuries can be traced back to a weak core. By strengthening your core, you can improve your balance, stamina, breathing, and other important functions.

Ease stress: Whether you can feel it or not, your body carries constant stress as an athlete, especially in your neck, back, and shoulders. Inversion therapy can help you stretch out your muscles and release tension for pain relief and improved muscle health.

Improved circulation: Poor circulation can ruin a workout in no time. The body relies on blood to carry oxygen to other parts of the body—without oxygen, the body can’t function properly.

No matter what you’re training for, the recovery process is just as important as training itself. Take time to give your body the rest it needs to work like a champion and avoid serious injury.

IRONMAN Fitness carries a wide variety of inversion tables in athletes need to stay on top of their game. For more information please go to IronmanFitness.com and like us on Facebook.